Garment-supporting clasp



(No Model.) .v

J. P. ATWOOD.

GARMENT SUPPORTING. CLASP.

Patented Jan. 5, 1886.

Inn/ENTER UNITED STATES PATENT OEEicE.

JAMES F. ATWOOD, OFBOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

GARMENT-SUPPORTING CLASP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 333,495,dated January 5, 1886.

Application tiled May 18, 1885.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES F. A'rwoon, of

Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Iniprovementsin Garment-Supporting Clasps, of which the following is a specification. l In the -accompanying drawings, in which similar letters ot' reference indicate like parts, Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a garment-supporting clasp embodying my invention, the clasp being represented as closed. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same on line w, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a vertical section of my device in the position assumed when opened or unclasped. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a modification. Fig. 5 is a vertical section of the same on line y, Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a view of the cam-link removed. Fig. 7 is a view of the back plate removed.

Ais the back plate, consisting of a tlat piece of metal turned up at the lower end into a lip, A', and vertically slitted at its upper end at a, as shown, thus dividing the upper end into three sections. The two outer sections, a" a", are folded over to receive the link or loop B, to which is secured the webbing or fabric B', extending to the supporting-garment, and the central section, a', forms a curved spring of the shape shown, the object of which is below described. The front piece consists of a plate of metal, D, bent back or in at D', and out again a little at its lower end, and provided with folds d d at its upper end, in which lies the link or loop C, to which is secured a handle or tab, C'.

E is a cam-link provided with the flat or squared end E', and the perforations e .6', in which lie, respectively, the links or loops B and C. The cam-link thus connects the upper ends of the plates A and D, lying between the parts a" of the former and the partsd of the latter. When the clasp is closed and clamping an article of apparel, the lower end of the front plate, D, is pushed down into the hollow formed by the lip A', the cam-link taking the position shown in Figs. l and 2- viz., with its flat or squared end E vertical, and its rear side resting against the spring a.

Serial No. 165,850. (No model.)

To open or unclasp the device, the tab or handle C is drawn out horizontally, pulling u the cam-link to a position on a line with it, and bringing its flat or squared end against the spring a', as shown in Fig. 3. Thus it will be seen that the cam-link holds the clasp in either position, open or closed, until force is applied to it to change the position.

Any suitable handle may be used in place of the tab C', or the link. C may be enlarged, so as to constitute a handle, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

In order to accommodate thick fabrics, an additional bend outward, as at D", Figs. 4 and 5, may be made in the plate D, if desired, so as to leave greater space between said plate and the back plate, A.

Vhile the end E' of the cam-link is preferably flattened, I do not confine myself to that exact shape, but propose to use anyend E', and pivotally secured at different points to the upper ends ot' said plates, substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. The hereiirdescribed improved garmentsupporting clasp, consisting, essentially, of the back plate, A, provided with the lip A', spring a', and folds a", the links or loops B C, camlink E E', front plate, D D', and tab or handle C', all constructed and arranged substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

JAMES F. ATWOOD. Witnesses:

HENRY W. WILLIAMS, J. M. HARTNETT. 

